HB 177 allocates $150,000 from the general fund to New Mexico's Veterans' Services Department to support veterans who need temporary separation from their service or companion animals for housing, medical care, or homelessness services. The bill funds contracted animal boarding, veterinary care, kennel facilities at veteran housing sites, and pet food to prevent veterans from losing access to essential services due to animal separation. This funding is available for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, with any unspent balance reverting to the general fund. The policy directly affects veterans requiring shelter, housing, or medical care that would otherwise require parting with their service animals.
HB 139 appropriates $135 million from New Mexico's general fund to the Housing Trust Fund for fiscal year 2027 and beyond, directly supporting state housing programs. The bill ensures unspent funds at year-end remain in the trust fund rather than reverting to the general budget. This provides stable, multi-year funding to carry out the New Mexico Housing Trust Fund Act, which finances affordable housing initiatives. The legislation focuses on concrete financial allocation, not policy changes or outcomes.
This bill (SJR 5) proposes a constitutional amendment to allow New Mexico’s legislature to limit annual increases in the assessed value of **residential property** for property tax purposes. It would amend the state constitution to authorize rules restricting how much a home’s taxable value can rise each year, potentially based on factors like owner-occupancy, homeowner age, or income. These limits could apply statewide or be chosen by local governments, with tax rates applied to the property’s full value if the limit isn’t used. The amendment requires voter approval at the next general election. (Note: The bill title incorrectly states "nonresidential"; the text specifically addresses residential property.)
HB 108 allows watershed districts in New Mexico to request soil and water conservation districts to levy property taxes for district operations. Specifically, watershed districts can ask the local soil conservation district board to impose an annual tax (capped at $5 per $1,000 of property value) to fund administration, construction, and maintenance of watershed projects. This bill clarifies the appointment process for watershed district boards, ensuring representation from soil conservation districts that hold minority land within the watershed area. It directly affects watershed districts, soil conservation districts, and property owners within those districts who may be subject to the requested taxes. The key change is creating a formal mechanism for watershed districts to secure dedicated funding through local property tax levies.
SB 106 allocates $5 million from New Mexico's general fund to the Higher Education Department for fiscal year 2027 to support graduate scholarships under the Graduate Scholarship Act. This funding directly benefits New Mexico graduate students pursuing advanced degrees by providing financial assistance through the state's scholarship program. The bill specifies that any unspent funds at the end of fiscal year 2027 must return to the general fund. The legislation is currently moving forward after passing committee review in the Senate.
HB 157 allocates $100,000 from the state general fund to New Mexico's Department of Health to create a website and hotline for expectant families and new parents. The resource will provide direct access to information on social services, financial assistance, adoption services, pregnancy care, parenting guidance, and local care centers. The funding is limited to fiscal year 2027, with any unused balance returning to the state budget. This bill does not change existing laws but provides new public access to existing support resources.
This bill appropriates $50 million from the state general fund to clean up abandoned uranium mines and other contaminated sites across New Mexico where no responsible polluter exists to fund the work. It directly affects communities near these sites, particularly those impacted by historical uranium mining, by enabling the Department of Environment to conduct assessments and remediation. The funds will be used for cleanup actions during fiscal years 2027-2029, with any unspent balance reverting to the general fund by 2029. The legislation focuses solely on addressing existing contamination through state-funded cleanup, without altering liability or creating new regulatory requirements.
This bill creates a $4,000 tax credit for New Mexico physicians who provide at least 1,584 hours of healthcare in the state annually. To qualify, physicians must apply for certification through the Department of Health and meet the hour requirement. Unused portions of the credit can be carried forward for up to three years. The credit applies to licensed medical and osteopathic physicians starting with tax years beginning January 1, 2026.
HB 194 expands New Mexico's Metropolitan Redevelopment Program to include areas with housing shortages, defined as locations experiencing affordable housing scarcity, rising costs, or low vacancy rates. The bill allows redevelopment projects in these areas to include qualifying multifamily housing and exempts such properties from property taxation for up to 20 years. This directly affects developers and property owners building or maintaining affordable housing in designated shortage areas. The policy aims to increase housing supply by reducing financial barriers for developers in regions with critical housing needs.
HB 264 creates new tax deductions for New Mexico taxpayers earning tips (based on federal Section 224), overtime pay (federal Section 225), and Social Security income (federal Section 151). It replaces the Working Families Tax Credit with a state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) modeled after federal rules, adds a new Foster Parent and Guardian Income Tax Credit, and expands the medical expense deduction to apply to taxpayers of all income levels. The bill also extends tax deductions for healthcare practitioners to include patient coinsurance payments. These provisions directly affect low-to-moderate income earners, tip-based workers, retirees, and foster care providers by modifying how their income is taxed under New Mexico law.
